ἕξις
ἰχθύς ἐκ τῆς κεφαλῆς ὄζειν ἄρχεται → the fish stinks from the head, a fish rots from the head down, the fish rots from the head down, fish begin to stink at the head, the fish stinks first at the head, corruption starts at the top, the rot starts at the top
English (LSJ)
εως, ἡ, (ἔχω): I (ἔχω trans.) having, being in possession of, possession, ἐπιστήμης ἕ., opp. κτῆσις, Pl.Tht.197b; νοῦ Id.Cra. 414b; ἡ τῶν ὅπλων Id.Lg.625c, cf. R.433e, Sph.247a, al., Arist. Metaph.1022b4; opp. στέρησις, ib.1055b13, S.E.P.3.49. 2 in surgery, posture, Hp.Off.3; ἕ. ἢ θέσις ib.15. II (ἔχω intr.) a being in a certain state, a permanent condition as produced by practice (πρᾶξις), diff. from σχέσις (which is alterable) (v. infr.): 1 state or habit of body, Id.Aph.2.34, cf. Pl.Tht.153b; ἕ. ὑγιεινή (so also X.Mem.1.2.4), opp. διάθεσις ἀθλητική, Hp.Alim.34; σχέσις καὶ ἕ. καὶ ἡλικίη Id.Mochl.41; ἡ φύσις καὶ ἡ ἕ. Id.Acut.43: pl., Thphr. Sens.69: generally, condition, ἐν ἕξει τοῦ δρᾶν D.H.Comp. 25; ἕ. λεπτὴ κατὰ τοῦτο τὸ μέρος Hp.Art.12; τῷ θερμὴν ἕ. ἔχοντι Polystr. p.26W.; outward appearance, ἡ ἕ. τοῦ σώματος κρείσσων LXXDa. 1.15, cf. 1 Ki.16.7, Sm.La.4.7; habit of a vine, Thphr.CP3.14.5; of material objects, ὑπὸ μιᾶς ἕξεως συνέχεσθαι S.E.M.7.102, cf. Ph.2.511, Stoic.2.124,al. b medic., the system, Ath.2.45e, Mnesith. ib.54b, Paul.Aeg.3.59. 2 state or habit of mind, ἕ. κακίης Democr. 184; τὰς φύσεις τε καὶ ἕξεις τῶν ψυχῶν Pl.Lg.650b, etc.; ἡ ἐν τῇ ψυχῇ ἕ., opp. ἡ τῶν σωμάτων ἕ., Id.Tht.l.c.; πονηρᾶς ψυχῆς ἕξει ib.167b; λαμβάνειν ἕξιν τιμιωτέραν Id.R.591b. b esp. acquired habit, opp. ἐνέργεια, Arist.EN1098b33,al. 3 trained habit, skill, Pl.Phdr. 268e, Arist.Pr.955b1, Plb.10.47.7, D.S.2.29; τέχνη defined as ἕ. ἢ διάθεσις ἀπὸ παρατηρήσεως Phld.Rh.1.69S.; ἄκρα ἕ. D.H.Comp.11: c. gen., τὴν τῶν Ἰουδαϊκῶν γραμμάτων ἕξιν Aristeas 121; ἕ. πολιτικῶν λόγων Phld.Rh.2.35 S. (Almost confined to Prose, but cf. Orph.A. 391.)
